2007 Saint Prefert CDP Collecion Charles Giraud Proprietary Blend

2007 Saint Prefert CDP Collecion Charles Giraud

100 RP

Featured Review

Absolutely prodigious, and, like the other two 2007s, superior to what I predicted last year, is the utterly perfect 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud. Made from 80-year-old Grenache (60%) and 60-year-old Mouvedre (40%) and aged totally in 600-liter demi-muids, I have had this wine a half dozen times, and it has been perfect on every occasion. It offers a mouthful of Chateauneuf du Pape filled with elegance, purity, and laser-like focus. The dark plum/purple color is accompanied by notes of camphor, ground pepper, sweet blackberry and black cherry fruit interwoven with licorice, garrigue, and spice box. In that sense, it is the quintessential expression of a Chateauneuf du Pape, Provence, and the southern Rhone. The wine hits the palate with a glorious display of red and black fruits, herbs, and spices. Full-bodied, meaty, rich, and chewy with extraordinary purity and intensity as well as a multilayered texture and a 60+ second finish, this amazing wine offers up a smorgasbord of aromas and flavors. Furthermore, everything is perfectly balanced. Already irresistible, this 2007 Chateauneuf should drink well for 15-20 years. Wow! The energetic and very passionate Isabel Ferrando got her start in Chateauneuf du Pape in 2002, only to experience historic flooding and the most disastrous vintage since 1956 and 1932. However, she is a strong woman, and survived that calamitous vintage to turn out what was essentially her debut, the fabulous 2003s. She has followed that up with strong efforts in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and her greatest wines to date, the monumental 2007s. Interestingly most of her estate is located in the southernmost area of Chateauneuf du Pape, a region known as Serres, which is largely sandy soils. Until this visit, I had not realized how good the Saint-Prefert white wines are (only 400-500 cases produced in most vintages). To reiterate, the 2007s are the greatest wines Isabel Ferrando has yet made. They represent three sensational yet totally different styles of Chateauneuf du Pape. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 100 RP

Pure perfection in the glass, the 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud is one heavenly red that matches incredible intensity and opulence with class and grace. Absolutely loaded with notions of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, incense, dried flowers and cured meats, it’s full-bodied, sweetly fruit and seamless on the palate, with a weighty texture that belies the over size and concentration level of this beauty. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.

Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JD

Absolutely prodigious, and, like the other two 2007s, superior to what I predicted last year, is the utterly perfect 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud. Made from 80-year-old Grenache (60%) and 60-year-old Mouvedre (40%) and aged totally in 600-liter demi-muids, I have had this wine a half dozen times, and it has been perfect on every occasion. It offers a mouthful of Chateauneuf du Pape filled with elegance, purity, and laser-like focus. The dark plum/purple color is accompanied by notes of camphor, ground pepper, sweet blackberry and black cherry fruit interwoven with licorice, garrigue, and spice box. In that sense, it is the quintessential expression of a Chateauneuf du Pape, Provence, and the southern Rhone. The wine hits the palate with a glorious display of red and black fruits, herbs, and spices. Full-bodied, meaty, rich, and chewy with extraordinary purity and intensity as well as a multilayered texture and a 60+ second finish, this amazing wine offers up a smorgasbord of aromas and flavors. Furthermore, everything is perfectly balanced. Already irresistible, this 2007 Chateauneuf should drink well for 15-20 years. Wow!

The energetic and very passionate Isabel Ferrando got her start in Chateauneuf du Pape in 2002, only to experience historic flooding and the most disastrous vintage since 1956 and 1932. However, she is a strong woman, and survived that calamitous vintage to turn out what was essentially her debut, the fabulous 2003s. She has followed that up with strong efforts in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and her greatest wines to date, the monumental 2007s. Interestingly most of her estate is located in the southernmost area of Chateauneuf du Pape, a region known as Serres, which is largely sandy soils. Until this visit, I had not realized how good the Saint-Prefert white wines are (only 400-500 cases produced in most vintages). To reiterate, the 2007s are the greatest wines Isabel Ferrando has yet made. They represent three sensational yet totally different styles of Chateauneuf du Pape.

Robert Parker | 100 RP

Dark roasted Kenya AA coffee, braised fig, charred mesquite, mulled currant and blackberry fruit all work together in this huge and muscular but seamless and velvety offering. Graphite, brown bread, mineral and espresso notes weave through the finish, which has loads of pepper- and loam-tinged grip in reserve. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2011 through 2030. 665 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 98 WS

Inky purple. Intensely pungent nose offers a kaleidoscopic array of dark berries, flowers and spices, with elements of licorice and dark chocolate adding depth. Creamy mulberry and cherry-cola flavors coat the palate, complicated by sexy floral pastille and fruitcake qualities. Extremely rich wine with great back-end power and finishing sappiness.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

Type of Wine	Chateauneuf du Pape : You can expect Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds selection to wash over you with a combination of leather, game, tar, and delicious dried herbs, creating a spice mixture that commands respect from even the harshest non-believers. Chateauneuf-du-Pape whites are ever so refreshing and bold, frolicking in a field of floral notes and earthy minerals.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.